Racing: Hastings track just right for Mudgway

The best racing news of the month is that Hastings missed the weekend's rain that caused the abandonment of Saturday's $1 million Pick6 meeting at New Plymouth.

Unless rain falls against predictions in Hawkes Bay late this week, the track for Saturday's much-anticipated $200,000 Mudgway Stakes at Hastings will be perfect.

Hawkes Bay Racing's John McGifford said yesterday that only one decent shower fell on the track on Saturday night.

"To be honest, any further shower or two right now would be welcome.

"We don't want rain late this week, but a few showers in the next day or two would only be an advantage."

The club will be doing its first official track reading this morning. McGifford's guess of the rating right now is between 2.5 and 2.6.

Because of the nature of Hawkes Bay's soil and sub-soil, the Hastings track can dry quickly.

It was very firm for Mudgway Stakes day last year and did not suit all horses.

In contrast, the conditions at New Plymouth on Saturday suited no one - horses or riders.

Heavy rain set in for the beginning of the programme and when Race 3 was run, the track was under water.

As is usually the case in such conditions, jockeys complained they had almost zero visibility and officials had no choice but to abandon.

Australian Gavin McKeon finished third in Race 3 on Sugar Train and described the experience as like putting eyedrops in then immediately trying to judge distance.

"In conditions like those you get some vision, but not enough to allow you to judge distance ahead or sideways," said McKeon.

"You can't really judge how close you are to another horse's heels."

McKeon said he wasn't aware of any other jockey who wanted to continue, but said his own desperation to succeed might have made him consider it.

"To be honest, I probably would have kept going because I thought I could ride a winner later in the programme, but at the same time I was acutely aware of the dangers."

McKeon took photographs of the track two hours after the abandonment.

"You could still clearly see the pools of water on the surface."

Track CEO Carey Hobbs could only shake his head as he observed the New Plymouth track bathed in bright sunshine yesterday morning.

Because the Pick6 races had not begun, the $1 million Pick6 is now transferred to Hastings on Saturday. The meeting was to have had a guaranteed pool of $250,000.

The prospect of a firm track is wonderful news for the connections of most of the Mudgway runners, particularly the four favourites, Darci Brahma, Kristov, Wahid and Seachange.

The TAB's top of the market is $2.75 Darci Brahma, $6 Seachange, $8 Wahid, Kristov, $9 Calveen, $10 Bulginbaah.

Although Darci Brahma clearly deserves favouritism, the $2.75 seems light, especially as he would be out of business and possibly not even run if the track turned wet.

The TAB's head bookie Paul Lally says the agency is holding so much money on Darci Brahma for the race that the low quote is necessary.

"No matter what price we've had him at, the money keeps coming for Darci Brahma," said Lally.

"We thought the $3 would be light enough to stop the flow, but it didn't and we've had to bring him into $2.75."

You simply cannot remember a season where there have been so many equine stars about to burst on the scene.

The almost embarrassment of riches has caused a slight jockey problem.

Allan Sharrock was left without a rider for Wahid when Leith Innes accepted Asian contracts.

This week Innes signed a contract to ride for the Japan Racing Association.

Opie Bosson was offered the Wahid ride, but decided instead for Kristov. Sharrock has Hayden Tinsley, but for how long.

Tinsley is contracted to ride for the season for Sam Kelt and if Kelt's own horse Lilakyn runs in the race he sponsors, the $1 million Kelt Capital, Wahid will again be looking for a replacement.